Bill Gates talks about Epstein’s fall from grace as new Microsoft revelations emerge

Bill Gates apologized to Gates Foundation employees on Tuesday for his dealings with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, admitting in an internal town hall that the situation put the foundation’s reputation at risk, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Gates met with Epstein several times from 2011 to 2014, years after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a child for prostitution, and continued meetings even after his ex-wife Melinda French Gates raised concerns in 2013, according to a WSJ report.

He told employees that it was “a big mistake to spend time with Epstein” and to bring agency executives into a meeting with a sex offender, the newspaper reported.

At the town hall, Gates admitted to two outside interviews (with a Russian bridge player and a Russian nuclear physicist) that Epstein later found out about Gates’ former science adviser Boris Nikolic, the WSJ reported. Gates insisted that he did not participate in or witness any of Epstein’s crimes, telling staff, “I did nothing illegal.

Gates has never been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein’s victims.

During the town hall, he agreed to a wide range of results regarding the foundation.

“It’s certainly against the principles of the Foundation and the goals of the foundation,” he said, according to a recording reviewed by the newspaper. “And our work is very sensitive. I mean, people can choose to work with us or not work with us.”

In a statement sent to GeekWire, a spokesperson for the Gates Foundation said the town hall is a scheduled internal event held by Gates twice a year.

“Bill answered questions submitted by foundation staff on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files, the foundation’s work in AI, and the future of global health,” a spokesperson said. “Bill spoke frankly, answered many questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.”

Last week, Gates abruptly canceled a scheduled keynote speech at India’s AI Impact Summit hours before he was due to speak, and the foundation said the decision was made “to ensure the focus is on the key issues at the AI ​​Summit.”

In an earlier statement, the Gates Foundation said it was “aware of emails recently released by the US Department of Justice” that included communications between Epstein and foundation employees, and that a number of employees had contacted Epstein based on his claims that he “could mobilize important resources for health and development aid around the world.”

It said no cooperation was pursued and no payments were ever made to Epstein.

Separately on Tuesday, the New York Times reported that Epstein built a network of contacts throughout Microsoft over two decades, reaching deeper into the company than any other major technology company.

The documents show Epstein receiving updates on Microsoft’s CEO search, giving advice to executives, and accessing confidential company business.

Among those named in the NYT report: former CTO Nathan Myhrvold, who confirmed that Epstein went to Gates; former Windows executive Steven Sinofsky, who shared confidential Microsoft information with Epstein and sought his advice on his exit package; and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, a current Microsoft board member who visited Epstein’s island and continued to communicate with him in 2018, according to the newspaper.

Microsoft communications chief Frank Shaw told the NYT that the company was “disappointed” by emails between Epstein and former employees who were “working in their capacities.”

The Seattle Times has reported separately on the intense relationship between Myhrvold and Epstein, including emails showing the two meeting regularly in Seattle and New York from 2010 to 2018, and letters that appear to show Myhrvold visiting Epstein’s private island.

Myhrvold was also listed as a “friend” in Epstein’s 2003 obituary and contributed a personal letter to the project, as GeekWire previously reported.

Myhrvold’s spokesman said he previously knew Epstein “at TED conferences and as a contributor to basic science research” and “regrets ever having met him.”

The Epstein revelations had important consequences elsewhere.

Hyatt Hotels chairman Tom Pritzker resigned over his relationship with Epstein, Goldman Sachs chief legal officer Kathy Ruemmler resigned, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was indicted on grand corruption charges, and former British ambassador Peter Mandelson was arrested in connection with the disclosures.

In addition to his role at the foundation, Gates continues to advise Microsoft and serves as chairman of Bellevue-based TerraPower. Hoffman remains on the board of Microsoft. Myhrvold is CEO of Intellectual Ventures and vice chairman of TerraPower’s board.